X-Bomber the Game

• System:
  - Soft Shadows 2: Variable altitude, ground objects cast shadows on terrain, unified group
  - Damage Indication 2: Simplified with unified group
• User Interface:
  - Options Menu: Keyboard Mapping improved, layout improved
• Graphics:
  - Shield bubble and Enemy lightning weapon sprites improved
• General:
  - Mission 08 Boss: Logic, object-management and graphics improved
  - Enemy guided missiles merged and improved
  - Mission 03 and 09: Minor improvements

• Unity Engine - Unifies all 17 Mission modules into a single, reorganised, dynamic module
• System:
  - Dynamic Damage Indication with 50%, 75% (and 90% for bosses) steps [ 05.30 ]
  - Dai-X Fighter Shields: Flash green on impact, Shield bubble appears when invincible [ 03.07 ]
  - Preference-loading at mission start improved [ 03.07 ]
  - Power transfer and shield logic improved - applies to all ships [ 03.15 ]
  - Mission frame totally rebuilt at object/event-level in new MMF2 application [ 07.13 ]
• Weapons:
  - X-Bomber Specials: Positron Blaster (replaces Converging Laser Torpedoes in Chapter III) [ 01.23 ] and Laser Sabre prototype [ 01.13 ]
  - Dai-X Fighter Specials: Power levels and functions comprehensively revised [ 08.18 ]
  - Booster/THOR Special Weapons Powerup changed from Black to Lime [ 02.15 ]
  - Dai-X Fighters: Rear-firing weapons added [ 04.28 ] and LegTrax weapons improved
• Graphics:
  - Full-screen damage glow
  - New Shield bubbles [ 06.07 ]
• Gameplay:
  - Asteroid speed randomised [ 05.30 ]
  - Dai-X Junction and Fighter-switching improved and simplified [ 04.21 ]
  - Fixed bugs in Player Ship Power Management and Dai-X Fighter Weapons [ 03.19 ]
  - Dai-X Fighters: Afterburners added [ 03.07 ], Shields revised (filter damage and recharge over time) [ 05.10 ]
• General:
  - Missions 02, 03, 04, 07, 09 and 10 substantially improved, re: object consolidation and environment graphics
• User Interface:
  - Options Menu extensively revised: Scrolling improved [ 04.16 ] and draggable volume controls [ 04.28 ]
  - Fixed glitch with resuming Mission after displaying High Scores Menu.
  - Scores displayed by default in In-Game menu [ 04.16 ]
  - "Check for Updates" moved from the Options to Main Menu - (Click the version number at lower-right).
  - Fixed keyboard-control glitch in Missions and Scores Menus.
• Support:
  - Documentation comprehensively upgraded [ 06.07 ]
  - Updater downloads newer versions automatically. [ 09.26 ]

• Graphics:
  - Explosion animations greatly expanded and improved
  - Improve Enemy Lightning weapon sprites further with Photoshop
  - Improve Mission 08 volcano sprite
  - Dedicated M14 Boss Head Sprite
• Mini shield generators to share additive overlay with larger versions
• EDF Conestoga Missile Destroyer
• Extra Alliance Ground Installations, including larger buildings and extra turret types
• General:
  - Complete Airstrike feature across all missions, including adding all weapons to Space Carrier
• Gameplay:
  - Implement 'Original' X-Bomber Player Ship option

Evolution toys in Japan are producing this Dai-X action figure, to be shipped in May.

It is #12 in their Dynamite Action series. It is 17cm tall and fully articulated. It has magnetic joints, allowing it to separate into the three Dai-X Fighters.
It also features the caterpillar track parts, allowing LegTrax to transform into Tank Mode. The cost of the item looks to be around £75 + shipping + import duty.

You can find more images on the Media Page and more information is available on HobbyLink Japan and on eBay.

2014.02.07: On the SFXB Forum, Vanessa has found a UK supplier; Kapow Toys, making it easier to obtain.

• Replaced Screenshot Packs (total 3GB) with Star Fleet Galleries
• Creating detailed version history

.03.05 - Sprited Dai-X's new Aegis shield
.03.01 - Klan's GPU or mainboard seems to have died - continuing dev using Krystal
.01.16 - Thanks to Peter Lewis for getting our website database on the right server
.01.16 - M16 Robot Mode: torso, small shield head, legs sprited
.01.14 - M16 Boss: booster improved, Fighter-Mode ready, Robot-Mode WIP

Mobile Suit Mode Shown with one blaster and backup shield, without hand-held beam gatling

Mobile Armour Mode with positron blasters and main shield

Armaments:

Aircraft Mode

Here's the most recent progress on the aircraft mode for the Mission 16 Mid-Level Boss.
It will be a very large, fast, transforming robot, defending the interior of the Alliance Space Fortress.
It should be a challenging boss because of its size, speed and firepower but probably not as manic as the Mission 14 Final Boss.

The front part is a large detachable shield that operates as a separate ship. The long, grey modules on either side are boosters/guns that fire over the shoulders in robot mode.

I've got to finish the wings on the grey booster/guns. Then, I just have to make it transform; Macross Valkyrie style.
It should work ... theoretically.

Here is how the boss's graphic has progressed; without its destructible booster/gun and shield parts since March ... obviously been working quickly on this one: